What Does God Require?

The problem with religion is that people tend to leave God out of it. If it does not say anywhere in His word that celibacy is a requirement for priesthood then what is the big deal about making it an option? God didn't make that rule, humans did. I do agree completely with Rev. Smith that since the priest does take a vow of celibacy to God, then he is wrong in breaking that covenant. But when used in the institution of marriage, sex is NOT a horrible thing. As long as the priests are keeping their covenants with God that ARE actually in the word, who cares if they want to be married and enjoy sex like everyone else?! Priets are not saints, not angelic figures, not deities, but humans, with humans wants and human desires. If the priests are living as God says they should, who says that my choice not to become a priest allows me but denies them the act of sex in a loving, committed relationship. I think these self-righteous religious leaders need to get OFF their high horses, and start putting God back in it and take the rules of humanity out.

When used for purposes of perversion, control and lust sex can distort rational thinking. So I understand priests or anyone else taking a vow of celibacy if sex is something that is a barrier between them and God. I agree that the breaking of the covenant was the bigger mistake rather than the act itself. I don't understand for the life of me why anyone would believe that God wants them to be celibate for their entire lives when we were made to be sexual beings. A closure look at any clergy will yield an image much like our own, prone to mistakes and imperfections. However, we need to stop holding these people so high on spiriutal pedestals. I would imagine that such a position would make it hard for one to serve as it puts them in an unreachable place.One of the things that I appreciate most about the pastor of my church is that she is accessible. She is not a spiritual guru. She is a woman. A woman who has chosen to serve God in the way that he has ordered her to serve. That's all. Not a one of us can levetate, not even a priest so lets stop holding them in such high regard because they are human just as we are. Simularly they need to cease with the wearing of these spiritual masks that only come off when faced with real life challenges. Unfortunalty we judge those people too harshly when what we really should be judging is our own thoughts, actions and behaviors.

Rev. Smith,

The Catholic Church requires celibacy from nobody.

I cannot for the life of me see what your post has to do with the ACTUAL reasons for the decision of the (Latin rite of the) Catholic Church to select for the priesthood only from among men who have already freely chosen celibacy.

All you enumerate is a series of responses to the typical, bigoted misconceptions: as if Protestant ministers and public school teachers have not also been putting their hands down kids' pants for two generations, and married or not. Give me a break.

Hey Rev Sue:
You have grabbed a raging bull by the horns this time! Yet, I hear you loud and claer--this ought to be a choice, but dogma says that you'd better say no. Your article brought to mind the movie, "Broken Vows" where a priest did do what Father Cutie has done. The priest in the movie resigned from the priesthood as a result of breaking his vows. When asked how he would reconcile this, he answered, "This is between me and God."

I do believe celibacy in real time is possible for some, whle celibacy vows our spoken by others--we can make our mouths say or repeat anything. Perhaps this is the problem and reason for the sneaking around that goes on. Hormones have no sense or morals, they are hungry and get things done all the time. The "mother church" seems to have its head in the sand these days about many things as well as its protestant offspring. It seems that "because I said so," no longer flies when David sees Bathsheba. Moreover, David was not a priest, but hormonally complicit.

I contend that celibacy is revisited each time hormones make midnight/daylight decisions that dogma cannot police. Celibacy is a choice for some and a chore for most!

I agree, breaking the vow to God is more important that the "act".

In Ecclesiastes 5:5 it states, "It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it."

I would however be careful not to confuse those who are pedophiles with those who are sexually frustrated. Pedophilia is child abuse, and a crime against the most innocent, end of story.

Celibacy, should be voluntary for sure. Once it is determined that celibacy or any other sacrifice is in line with what God is requiring of you... keep the covenant!